For millennia humans ruled over Azmora as the sole known intellectual beings. They wasted their lives on war and technology. They leveled forests, polluted lakes and razed that ground to build giant metal structures as tall as small mountains. They believed the world belonged to them and them alone. Wars where waged over petty things. Very soon it became clear that Azmora was dying. Beings of myth began to make their existence known, unable to sit back and watch the destruction of their world any longer. As they appeared the beings brought the return of magic, something the humans lost centuries ago. The return of magic helped restore balance to the elements that controlled the land.
The beings divided themselves into four different clans, each representing the element they embodied. Prominent families from each clan gathered together to decide the fate of the destructive human race. The gathering lasted more than 2 moon cycles. Some thought it would be better to eradicate the humans for what they had done to the land. Others believed that the humans deserved a chance to try again, hopeful that they would learn from their mistakes. The majority believed that while they were unworthy to take care of their own kind in order to keep the balance in the land the humans needed to live on. Thus it was decided that the entire human race would be enslaved until they could prove they where worthy to sit alongside the beings of power as equals.
The clan leaders decreed that everything that remained of the human reign would be destroyed. The clans teamed up, destroying the man made mountains, cities and lakes, leaving nothing but rubble in its place. Every human was hunted down and divided into different classes, with each clan taking control of a different class. The clans gathered their people and scattered to their own kingdoms. The air shifters went northwest, claiming the majority of the mountain ranges as their lands. The fire dragons went northeast, claiming the dry plains and deserts as theirs. The water sprites claimed the marshes and lush grasslands of the southwest. Lastly the earth fairies went southeast, claiming the vast forests as their domain.
The peace lasted for several thousand years, and with time Azmora healed. As the years passed the "culling" became a distant memory of a forgotten time. A story passed down from generation to generation that no one really believed was real. Eventually the clans became displeased with their agreement, coveting each other's lands. Slowly wars began to spread as each clan fought for more land and power. Azmora began to fall back into ruin as the balance began to shift once more.
During an extremely gruesome battle a human child broke free from her chains and begged for the clans to stop the pointless bloodshed. Being one of the few humans who believed the old stories, she reminded the leaders of the original reason for enslaving her kind and seizing control. She pleaded with them to see how history was repeating itself and that if balance wasn't restored Azmora would once more face destruction. The clans where ashamed of what they had done, and the leaders sat down with the child to discuss the fate of Azmora. It was decided that the child had earned her people their freedom. Each clan giving up part of their land for the humans to create their own kingdom. Their main city would become the center point of Azmora and the human race would be tasked with maintaining the balance.
The child was named the leader of her people and together with the leaders of the other clans formed a ruling council. Together they signed a peace treaty. Every 250 years each of the elemental clans would bring forth three prominent members to be web to the other three clans. The hope was that this would strengthen the ties between the clans. The humans would make sure the weddings where successful.
This was the norm for several thousand years, and Azmora prospered. Each clan became responsible for a different aspect of life. Thus making each clan dependant on the other. After a time a balance between magic and science was even reached. The council kept a tight leash on what could be done so as to not allow history to repeat. With the councils guidance things that made every day life easier where created, from running water and plumbing to electricity. However these things where costly to acquire and thus where rare. Only the more wealthy could experience all the comforts of technology.
Slowly there became less need for the treaty marriages and with time they were forgotten. Displeased citizens began to rise up in riots and failed rebellions. Tensions rose as the gap between the lower class people and the wealthy grew. In a desperate attempt to return peace to the land the council decreed the return of the marriages. As it had been nearly 10,000 years since the first treaty was signed the council decided it would be in everyone's best interest for the chosen to be housed for several years in the main human city. This way the council would be able to ensure the safety of all the participants.
There are several radical groups that openly oppose the treaty and believe the council is no longer fit to rule over the people. Not everything is as it seems, and while the participants may have been chosen and sent to their fates things never go quiet as planned. Not everyone has honest motives and conflict is bound to ensue. When you force twelve people from four different clans into a world of death, betrayal, secrets and deceit things are bound to go wrong.
** Please Note** You are not limited to the five main races in each clan. Due to thousands of years of treaties there is a great range of races with elemental powers. It is even common for humans to develop powers. The only rule that is enforced about the mixing of the bloodlines is that it is expected for you to live in the clan whose gifts you bare. This is due to safety concerns. You cannot expect people in the air clan to teach someone how to use earth clan gifts and so forth.
There is also the option of being guards, staff as well as companions from each clan once more of the main roles have been filled.
